Debt grows on the backs of Albertans

Re: “Stumbling in the dark,” Editorial, April 15.

Finance Minister Joe Ceci stated, “We will not make the choice of balancing our books and reducing our debt on the backs of Albertans.”

Is he emphasizing that his government will never make the choice to reduce debt; they will let the borrowing continue until repayment is forced? Is the minister of finance unaware that all of Alberta’s revenue is generated directly or indirectly on the backs of Albertans?

I prefer to rearrange his statement for clarity: “We made the choice to not balance our books and to increase our debt on the backs of Albertans.”

Don Umbsaar, Calgary

An unflattering reflection

The 2016 budget predicts Alberta will soon have the highest government debt in history. Consumer debt has already risen to historic highs.

Coincidence? Government, whatever the party, is a reflection of its citizens. Perhaps those howling loudest for Rachel Notley’s head and the NDP’s recall should follow former Conservative premier Jim Prentice’s advice and look in the mirror.

Peter Jancewicz, Calgary

Stating the obvious

Re: “Cost estimates soar for southwest transitway,” April 16.

Coun. Brian Pincott’s statement suggesting that they “could have done a lot better at communicating and messaging” has got to be the understatement of all time.

What will council do now to save face over this public relations nightmare? Let me guess: Naheed Nenshi, Pincott et al. will end up stomping all over the City Hall barnyard like headless chickens (hopefully not dressed in pink this time), finger pointing and back peddling, claiming they were “duped” about cost overruns.

I wish I could say this type of condescending behaviour was limited only to the people concerned about transitway BRT costs, but sadly not — just ask the people in Chinatown or the low-level unelected city employees who will inevitably get thrown under the bus over this matter.

Tom Spenceley, Calgary

Diversity in education

Re: “Education options are important, Letter, April 16.

Peter Mannistu is correct. Diversity, when it comes to educating our children, is the key.

What a boring society would ours be if we only had one school system. Our three children went to public school; one is still in senior high school at William Aberhart in French immersion. We chose this for our children and are pleased with the results. I also teach German at a private school, West Island College, and am impressed with the extra curriculum subjects the students choose.

I also help and correct self-directed courses through the home-learning connections for children who choose to learn German while being home schooled. I have no problem with the government using my tax dollars to support all schools, be it private, or public or home-schooling.

This is what makes us unique and gives us an advantage. There is one Alberta curriculum and that is the one all schools have to follow and all students have to pass. I hope our current government understands and maintains that. No government should tell parents which system is best.

Tax on fictitious gases

The greatest mystery surrounding Alberta’s carbon tax is its purpose. The purpose can’t be to stop global warming, because carbon emissions (soot) block the sun’s energy, causing global cooling, so if this tax reduces carbon particulate emissions, it will essentially contribute to global warming.

Our intrepid Alberta Climate Change Panel said “Greenhouse gas is an atmospheric gas that absorbs and emits heat into the atmosphere.” Gases can absorb and transmit heat through conduction, but can only emit thermal radiation, which is not heat; so under this definition, there are no real-world greenhouse gases, and therefore, there can be no actual purpose to taxing these fictitious gases.

Unless Rachel Notley can somehow justify this mysterious carbon tax, it can only be seen as a fraudulent attempt to raise government revenue.

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